She was completed for sea on 20 April 1840 at an initial cost of £39,505, including £21,707 for hull construction, £13,309 for her machinery and £4,389 for her fitting out.

[4][Note 1] She was initially commissioned in May 1840 under the command of Lieutenant William Simpson Blount, RN for trials then used as a transport.

[7] Lieutenant Herbert Grey Austen, RN assumed command on 19 February 1847.

[11] After the occupation of Kertch, she participated in the naval excursion led by HMS Miranda into the Sea of Azov.

[17] She commissioned for service on the West Coast of Africa under Commodore Charles Wise, RN as the Senior Officer's Ship, on 20 April 1857.

[20] She was commissioned on 16 July 1862 under Captain Richard Vesey Hamilton, RN for service in the West Indies.